Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Over 1,000 Scientologists and guests attended a gala event in Hollywood Saturday night, marking the 42nd anniversary of the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre. Guests included many of the Church’s well-known members, including John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Anne Archer, Jenna Elfman, Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Erika Christensen, Priscilla Presley and Nancy Cartwright.

The evening’s guest speakers included John Redman, Director of Demand Reduction for California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Redman highlighted the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which is supported by the Church: “Our partnership with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World has changed everything. I have never seen anything like it in my career. The materials are unmatched, and I don’t say that flippantly, because I have probably seen everything that has come along in drug education. These materials connect, they are interesting to the kids, and they are designed for youth and fun to work with. I’ve seen them in action and they work. The Foundation and the Church of Scientology are as committed and as serious as we are when it comes to educating the world about the dangers of drugs.”

Dr. Michael Crosby, President of the 77th Street Division Los Angeles Police Department Clergy Council spoke about his experience with another Church-affiliated program, The Way to Happiness.

“The Way to Happiness is ageless. It is for all creeds, races and religions. And it offers a light in the darkest night for our cultures. Whenever I read one or more of the precepts I rejoice, because we have in our hands a simple yet effective way to teach basic values and principles to anyone—principles that forge strong relationships, honesty, integrity, civility, and self respect and competence.”

The Church of Scientology sponsors humanitarian programs addressing key societal issues such as drug abuse, human rights, moral values for a modern world, illiteracy and disaster relief.

In keeping with Mr.Hubbard’s words from 1951, “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists,” the Celebrity Centre is the arts and cultural branch of the Church of Scientology and as such work with those whose broad visions for social enhancement are essential for positive progression of society.

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood was founded in 1969. It was established to provide artists, professionals and leaders in every field with a distraction-free environment to practice their religion. Whether for up-and-coming artists or established public figures, a Celebrity Centre offers an atmosphere where all can discover Scientology for themselves. Other Celebrity Centres are located in cultural centers around the world including New York, Paris, Nashville, Las Vegas, Vienna, Florence and London. Celebrity Centres, like all churches of Scientology worldwide, are open to the public.

The popularity of Scientology among artists and professionals in many fields mirrors its current growth internationally, expanding more in the last year than the last five years combined and more in the last five years than in the five previous decades.

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The Scientology religion was founded by author and philosopher L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in Los Angeles in 1954 and the religion has expanded to more than 9,000 Churches, Missions and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 165 countries.